Color Variation, Habitat Light, and Background Contrast in Anolis carolinensis along a Geographical Transect in Florida<sup>1</sup>

Macedonia, Joseph M.; Echternacht, Arthur C.; Walguarnery, Justin W.

doi:10.1670/159-02a

Cited by 29 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 20 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The results obtained in the present study show that the prominent eyespots and blue OVS that characterize adult ocellated lizards are UV/blue. UV-reflectance is present in coloured skin patches of many iguanid and agamid lizards (Fleishman et al, 1993;LeBas & Marshall, 2000;Blomberg, Owens & Stuart-Fox, 2001;Fleishman & Persons, 2001;Macedonia, 2001;Stoehr & McGraw, 2001;Thorpe, 2002;Macedonia, Echternacht & Walguarney, 2003;Thorpe & Stenson, 2003). Recent research has revealed that the colour patterns Data are mean ± SEM.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ultraviolet reflectance and cryptic sexual dichromatism in the ocellated lizard, Lacerta (Timon) lepida (Squamata: Lacertidae)

Font

Lanuza

Sampedro

2009

Biological Journal of the Linnean Society

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Ultraviolet (UV) colorations have garnered extensive theoretical and empirical treatment in recent years, although the majority of studies have concerned themselves with avian taxa. However, many lizards have acute visual systems with retinal photoreceptors that are sensitive to UV wavelengths, and also display UV-reflecting colour patches. In the present study, we used UV photography and full-spectrum reflectance spectrophotometry to describe intra-and intersexual colour variation in adult ocellated lizards Lacerta (Timon) lepida and to obtain evidence of UV-based ornamentation. We also investigated whether any colour traits correlate with morphological traits potentially related to individual quality. The results obtained show that the prominent eyespots and blue outer ventral scales (OVS) that ocellated lizards have on their flanks reflect strongly in the UV range and are best described as UV/blue in coloration. The eyespots of males are larger and cover a larger surface area than those of females. However, these differences can be entirely accounted for by sex differences in body size, with males being generally larger than females. We also found differences in the shape of reflectance curves from males and females, with the eyespots and blue OVS of males being more UV-shifted than those of females. Other body regions have extremely low UV reflectance and are not sexually dichromatic. Eyespot size and the total surface area covered by eyespots increases with body size in males but not in females, suggesting that they may be signalling an intrinsic individual characteristic such as body size or male fighting ability. We also discuss the alternative and nonexclusive hypothesis that eyespots may function in lizards of both sexes as protective markings against predators.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ultraviolet reflectance and cryptic sexual dichromatism in the ocellated lizard, Lacerta (Timon) lepida (Squamata: Lacertidae)

Font

Lanuza

Sampedro

2009

Biological Journal of the Linnean Society

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…These reflectance patterns, invisible to humans, appear to be used for intraspecific signalling and mate choice in some fish and birds (fish: Losey et al , 1999; García & Perera, 2002; Kodric‐Brown & Johnson, 2002; birds: Cuthill & Bennett, 1993; Maier, 1993; Bennett & Cuthill, 1994; Bennett et al , 1996; Church et al , 1998; Cuthill, Partridge & Bennett, 2000 a ; Cuthill et al , 2000 b ; Siitari et al , 2002; Hausmann, Arnold & Marshall, 2003). In common with other vertebrates, many lizards display elaborate UV reflectance patterns (Fleishman, Loew & Leal, 1993; LeBas & Marshall, 2000; Macedonia et al , 2000; Blomberg, Owens & Stuart‐Fox, 2001; Fleishman & Persons, 2001; Macedonia, 2001; Stoehr & McGraw, 2001; Thorpe & Richard, 2001; Thorpe, 2002; Macedonia, Echternacht & Walguarnery, 2003; Thorpe & Stenson, 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex and population variation in ultraviolet reflectance of colour patches in Gallotia galloti (Fam. Lacertidae) from Tenerife (Canary Islands)

2005

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Sex and population differences in the ultraviolet (UV) reflectance patterns of two phenotypically divergent lacertids from Tenerife, Gallotia galloti eisentrauti and G. g. galloti, are described. Adults in both populations have rows of lateral and ventro-lateral blue patches on either side of the trunk that show a single peak of reflectance in the near UV. The lateral patches of males are more intensely reflective than those of females, but females have more chromatic and UV-shifted lateral patches than males. Most G. g. eisentrauti and some G. g. galloti also have blue cheek patches on either side of the gular area. Male cheek patches have reflectance peaks in the near UV, whereas those of females peak in the visible part of the spectrum. The lateral patches of males from the two populations differ in hue but not in intensity, those of G. g. galloti being more UV-shifted than those of G. g. eisentrauti. Female G. g. galloti have more intensely reflective lateral patches than female G. g. eisentrauti. Interindividual variation in peak wavelength and/or UV chroma is present in both sexes and populations. This is the first demonstration of sexual dichromatism in the UV reflectance of colour patches in a lacertid.

show abstract

“…However, the color for these clay models were chosen because they represent the non-Uv components of colors exhibited by each species the replicas were modeled for. Dorsal body surfaces of anoles do not reflect Uv, at least among species in published literature (Macedonia et al 2003). Thus, i assume that the colors chosen for the clay models do not appear abnormal to predators, and do not confound attempts to quantify predation frequency.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Perch-height specific predation on tropical lizard clay models: implications for habitat selection in mainland neotropical lizards

Steffen¹

2008

RBT

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Predation has been hypothesized to be a strong selective force structuring communities of tropical lizards. Comparisons of perch height and size-based predation frequencies can provide a unique window into understanding how predation might shape habitat selection and morphological patterns in lizards, especially anoles. Here i use plasticine clay models, placed on the trunks of trees and suspended in the canopy to show that predation frequency on clay models differs primarily according to habitat (canopy vs. trunk-ground), but not according to size. These data are discussed in light of observed lizard abundances in the lowland forests of Costa Rica, and are presented as partial explanation for why fewer lizards are found in tree canopies, and more lizards are found on ground-trunk habitats. Rev. Biol it has been speculated that predation may be an important selective force effecting patterns of body size and habitat choice in mainland anoles (Lister 1981, Andrews andRand 1982), in part because they do not appear to conform well to Caribbean island lizard ecomorph classification. That is, body size, limb length and habitat associations are different from island anoles (irschick et al. 1997). Determination of the extent to which predation influences body size or habitat choice remains largely unknown because predation on anoles is difficult to observe (Schoener and Schoener 1978, Wunderle 1981, Adolph and Roughgarden 1983 and to quantify (Adolph and Roughgarden 1983). Past studies which suggest that predation may be important to structuring mainland anole communities have relied on indirect methods of assessment, such as annual survivorship (Andrews and Rand 1982) or behavioral observations (Wunderle 1981). Direct behavioral observations are of limited use in predation assessment because they do not allow quantification of predation at times and places where there are no observers present. That is, behavioral observations only tell us something about individuals we know have been attacked. The use of annual survivorship to infer predation rates is weak because it confuses total annual survivorship with mortality due to predation alone. Because survivorship values cannot quantify the number of individuals lost in a year to non-predator causes, in addition to those killed by predators, the values quantified and assessed may be an overestimate. Moreover, this method is limited to studying predation on anoles in localities or habitats in which lizards are easy to capture, mark, and recapture, but does not allow researchers to gain insight about predation in environs that are less observable. Here i quantify canopy-and tree-trunkbased predation frequency for small and moderate-sized clay lizards in a neotropical lowland primary forest. i compare predation frequency between size classes and habitats (trunk-ground and canopy) to test the ideas that predation frequencies are related to a) body size and b) vertical location / perch height in the forest canopy, thereby providing support for the hypothesis that obs...

show abstract

Color Variation, Habitat Light, and Background Contrast in Anolis carolinensis along a Geographical Transect in Florida¹

Cited by 29 publications

References 20 publications

Ultraviolet reflectance and cryptic sexual dichromatism in the ocellated lizard, Lacerta (Timon) lepida (Squamata: Lacertidae)

Ultraviolet reflectance and cryptic sexual dichromatism in the ocellated lizard, Lacerta (Timon) lepida (Squamata: Lacertidae)

Sex and population variation in ultraviolet reflectance of colour patches in Gallotia galloti (Fam. Lacertidae) from Tenerife (Canary Islands)

Perch-height specific predation on tropical lizard clay models: implications for habitat selection in mainland neotropical lizards

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Color Variation, Habitat Light, and Background Contrast in Anolis carolinensis along a Geographical Transect in Florida1

Cited by 29 publications

References 20 publications

Ultraviolet reflectance and cryptic sexual dichromatism in the ocellated lizard, Lacerta (Timon) lepida (Squamata: Lacertidae)

Ultraviolet reflectance and cryptic sexual dichromatism in the ocellated lizard, Lacerta (Timon) lepida (Squamata: Lacertidae)

Sex and population variation in ultraviolet reflectance of colour patches in Gallotia galloti (Fam. Lacertidae) from Tenerife (Canary Islands)

Perch-height specific predation on tropical lizard clay models: implications for habitat selection in mainland neotropical lizards

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Color Variation, Habitat Light, and Background Contrast in Anolis carolinensis along a Geographical Transect in Florida¹